In the last episode, I shared some quotes from the book “The Choice to Leave Abuse,” by Dr. Ryan Anderson. I am still not finished with the book, but as I’m in the middle of the massive research study where I'm still coding interviews with 111 Utah women who have experienced trauma, 108 of which were members of the Church, it was critically important in my own development to read this book. I’ve seen so much of what Dr. Andersen has written about and it is a relief to find someone who has written what makes sense and what feels right to me. In in episode, I share more of the passages that resonated with me in the first half of the book. Thanks for listening!

As listeners know, I'm doing a lot of reading, research, and reflection around the issues of violence against women and children in the Church. With this in mind, several mental health professionals who work with members of the Church recommended that I read the book “The Choice to Leave Abuse,” by Dr. Ryan Anderson. I'm still finishing it, but his writings are very connected to my thoughts and personal revelation. I'll share some of the profound statements made in Chapter 1 of this book. I would recommend it for sure! https://www.amazon.com/dp/146214179X

I know I’ve been sharing many editorials that I’ve written on this podcast, and I want to get to some other things, but I do have one more to share because I do think it applies to us as women (and others) in the Church. So, this editorial published in the Utah News Dispatch is titled, “Utah’s Status Quo Problem: Why We Resist Change Even When It Hurts Us.” As I read it, I’m going to pause a few times to add some thoughts—especially about how these cultural patterns show up in Latter‑day Saint communities and what they mean for women of faith.

This piece is about Utah, but the dynamics I describe are not limited to Utah. They show up in families, congregations, institutions, and cultures everywhere. And they matter deeply for women who are trying to live their covenants, strengthentheir communities, and help create safer, more equitable environments for everyone. Thanks for listening and caring!